Scottish Executive

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) the Scottish Arts Council and (b) Scottish Ballet regarding any proposed change of role for Scottish Ballet.

Allan Wilson: The Executive has been in close touch with the company and the Scottish Arts Council in respect of recent events.

Homelessness

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in measuring the prevalence of rough sleeping in Scotland.

Jackie Baillie: The current monitoring of the RSI target involves a three-stage assessment to be repeated annually. The stages are:

  1. A bi-annual (spring and autumn) prevalence assessment of the numbers of rough sleepers across Scotland, to be measured as a "snapshot" figure for a typical week.

  2. A bi-annual audit of direct access accommodation offered and available to rough sleepers. This work to be carried out alongside the prevalence assessment (above).

  3. A qualitative assessment of how demand and supply factors work together in various localities across Scotland.

  The first set of quantitative data was collected in one week in May. I am placing copies of the report on this exercise in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. no. 15838).

  In summary the report indicates that during the study week an average 64 people each night were reported as sleeping rough in Scotland. The average in Glasgow was 23, with 19 in Edinburgh and 22 across all of the other 26 participating local authorities. This assessment will be repeated in October and a full report, including a qualitative assessment of supply of and demand for services in key authorities, will be produced in March of 2002.

Justice

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold a public inquiry into the decision to prosecute for child sex abuse six men, the case against whom was halted at the High Court on 25 July 2001.

Colin Boyd QC: No.

Justice

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures the Crown Office is taking to inquire fully into the reasons for, and lessons to be learned from, the halting on 25 July 2001 at the High Court of the prosecution for child sex abuse of six men.

Colin Boyd QC: The case was halted because one of the essential witnesses was deemed unfit to complete his evidence. The decision to do so was based upon an assessment by an experienced clinical psychologist. As is common in major cases, the Crown Office will consider whether any matters have arisen the further examination of which may be beneficial for future cases.

Ministerial Correspondence

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its performance has been in the first quarter of 2001 in answering ministerial correspondence.

Mr Tom McCabe: In my reply to Mr McNulty’s question (S1W-12613) answered on 22 December 2000 we undertook to report quarterly on the numbers of letters received by ministers and our performance in answering them. In the quarter January to March 2001, 3,960 letters were received for ministerial reply, of which 60 per cent received a reply within 17 working days and 79 per cent received a reply within 25 working days.

Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency in 2001-02.

Ross Finnie: The agency’s performance against its targets in 2000-01 was published in full in its annual report and accounts laid before the Scottish Parliament in August. (Bib. no. 15417)

  For 2001-02 I have set the agency the following key performance targets:

  Quantitative targets

  Achievement of a target income of £120,000 from new work or new customers.

  Completion of 95 per cent of all scientific tests and analyses within the timescales set by customers.

  Improvement in the unit cost of the scientific work of the agency (cost per direct scientific hour).

  Ensuring, as part of the agency’s rolling programme of consultation of customers, that 95 per cent of the customers for the services of the official seed testing station for Scotland are at least "satisfied".

  Milestone targets

  Fulfilment of the agency service level agreement within the budget agreed with ERAD.

  Publication of a review of the scientific work of the agency 1997-2000 by 31 December 2001.

Telecommunications

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has ever written to any Scottish football clubs asking whether they would consider leasing land to telecommunications companies for the purpose of erecting telecommunications masts.

Lewis Macdonald: No. The location of telecommunications apparatus is a matter in the first instance for the telecommunication companies, in line with their operational requirements. Their decisions on location are, of course, subject to the new planning controls.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Saltire

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer when a practice of flying the Saltire from the Parliament’s offices on George IV Bridge at all times will be introduced.

Sir David Steel: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body’s policy is to fly both the Saltire and the Union flag on Committee Chambers on certain specified days only. There are no current plans to change this policy although the Corporate Body has agreed to consider the issue of a parliamentary flag in the context of the Holyrood Arts Strategy.